More than 500 cows have been reported dead over the past two weeks in Rajasthan’s Hingonia due to a lapse in the maintenance of the government-run shelter.
This, despite the state having the first-ever ministry for the protection of cows.
On Saturday, Urban Development and Housing Minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat reviewed the situation in the Hingonia Cow Rehabilitation Centre, and suspended gaushala (cow shed) in-charge Ramesh Sharma and deputy commissioner Sher Singh.
The cow deaths have sent shockwaves among cattle rearers and activists working for the welfare of the bovines.
According to the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, 250 contractual workers at the Hingonia cow shelter, said to be the biggest of its kind in Rajasthan, went on strike last month.
As a result, no one cleaned the stalls and fed the animals, and many of them starved to death. Their hooves were stuck in the slush caused by heavy rain and cow dung, an official said.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau officials, who had come to take stock of the irregularities and deplorable conditions at the shelter on the directions of the high court, were so moved by the plight of the cattle that they rolled up their sleeves and rescued stunted bovines stranded in the muck and slush.
According to ACB Additional SP Bajrang Singh Shekhawat, “The ACB will submit a report on the number of deaths and the reason behind it. The cows have died due to the negligence of the administration.”
Th Hingonia gaushala houses over 8,000 cows, which are under the supervision of a team of 14 veterinarians, 24 livestock assistants and about 200 support staff.
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